Published: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 10:34 PM.

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GASTONIA — A near-capacity Rhodes Gymnasium and a physical, competitive game Wednesday demonstrated why the Ashbrook and Shelby coaching staffs like putting each other on the early non-conference schedule.

In the end, Shelby’s length and athleticism proved too be too much for Ashbrook as Chris Wray’s 21 points led the Golden Lions to a 57-45 road win.

“You know they’re going to play the whole time, so it’s always a good game,” Shelby coach Aubrey Hollifield said. “That’s why I like to play Ashbrook because you’re going to get a good basketball game and a good atmosphere that’s going to set you up for the rest of the year.”

Donte Falls scored 12 points with Lees-McRae coaches observing him and Gabe DeVoe added 10 points for Shelby (2-0), which is off to a strong start having opened with a convincing victory against Kings Mountain.

Shelby, which returned all five starters from last season’s regional finalist, overcame a poor shooting night for what Hollifield called an “ugly win.”

Antonio Blalock scored 14 to lead Ashbrook, which also didn’t shoot well. The Green Wave also had a hard time finishing inside because of Shelby’s length and shot-blocking ability.

“I think it’s going to make us work harder,” Ashbrook coach Chad Duncan said. “It’s a very good team that we played — very athletic, very big — and I think it’s just going to make our guys realize that we’ve got to work harder and we’ve got to be a little bit more disciplined at times.”

GASTONIA — A near-capacity Rhodes Gymnasium and a physical, competitive game Wednesday demonstrated why the Ashbrook and Shelby coaching staffs like putting each other on the early non-conference schedule.

In the end, Shelby’s length and athleticism proved too be too much for Ashbrook as Chris Wray’s 21 points led the Golden Lions to a 57-45 road win.

“You know they’re going to play the whole time, so it’s always a good game,” Shelby coach Aubrey Hollifield said. “That’s why I like to play Ashbrook because you’re going to get a good basketball game and a good atmosphere that’s going to set you up for the rest of the year.”

Donte Falls scored 12 points with Lees-McRae coaches observing him and Gabe DeVoe added 10 points for Shelby (2-0), which is off to a strong start having opened with a convincing victory against Kings Mountain.

Shelby, which returned all five starters from last season’s regional finalist, overcame a poor shooting night for what Hollifield called an “ugly win.”

Antonio Blalock scored 14 to lead Ashbrook, which also didn’t shoot well. The Green Wave also had a hard time finishing inside because of Shelby’s length and shot-blocking ability.

“I think it’s going to make us work harder,” Ashbrook coach Chad Duncan said. “It’s a very good team that we played — very athletic, very big — and I think it’s just going to make our guys realize that we’ve got to work harder and we’ve got to be a little bit more disciplined at times.”

It didn’t help the Green Wave when Grant Stafford drew two fouls in the first 1:48. The senior forward finished with seven points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Austin Mitchell pulled down nine boards and Trey Dellinger recorded five assists for the Green Wave.

A back-and-forth first half ended in a 24-24 tie, but Shelby began taking control in the third quarter behind Wray’s nine points in the period. Shelby opened the third quarter with an 18-5 run for a 42-29 lead and Ashbrook got no closer than seven after that.

Ashbrook hosts Highland Tech on Friday. Shelby plays again Saturday at home against South Point with the varsity girls starting around 4:30 p.m. and the boys to follow around 6.

Girls Ashbrook: 62, Shelby 40 — Alexis Wallace recorded her first career triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists as Ashbrook easily won its opener. Wallace’s scoring and rebounding totals represented career highs for the senior guard.

“Lucky (Wallace) took charge and led the girls,” Ashbrook coach Juan Smith said.

Jordan Chambers added 16 points and three steals while Gaston Day transfer Logan Carter contributed 11 points, four assists and three rebounds for Ashbrook (1-0).

Ashbrook beat Shelby for the first time under Smith, and the teams have met each of his 12 seasons.

Shelby (0-2) got eight points from Rondrea Coleman, seven from Amber Boyd and six each from Brittannie Browner and Taylor Little.